By Alberto Amalfi | @TennisNow | Thursday, August 15, 2024
Photo: Matthew Calvis
Players will receive a pay rise on the World Tennis Tour next year.
The International Tennis Federation announced it will add $5 million in prize money, a 26% increase, to the 2025 World Tennis Tour.
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A record total of $35.3 million will be offered in 2025 with over 1,100 tournaments played worldwide. This is a 20% increase to the total of $29.4 million available in 2024.
The ITF said “the increases are designed to help ease the challenging financial conditions experienced by many players, increasing their earning capacity and, for women, reducing hotel costs – a key part of a player’s budget.”
There are five tournament levels on the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour: W15 and W35 (entry level); W50, W75 and W100 (equivalent to ATP Challenger level). In 2025, there will be $20.7 million in total prizes available – a record total for the fourth year in a row.
The 2025 structure will see a number of other improvements to the women’s events, which further narrow the gap between the equivalent women’s and men’s tournaments. These include:
Mandatory hospitality at all W50 and W75 events to join existing demand at W100 tournaments (total of 28,000 nights of free accommodation for women, up from 5,000 nights in 2024)
The W50 and W75 tournaments will provide a minimum of 3 nights accommodation for main draw singles players (4 nights at W100 level) and a minimum of 2 nights accommodation for doubles players.
Increase in prize money in W75 level tournaments from $60,000 to $70,000 These improvements are based on an increase in recent years in the number of W50, W75, W100 level tournaments: from 76 in 2019 to over 150 in 2024.
There are two tournament levels on the ITF Men’s World Tennis Tour – M15 and M25 (entry level). In 2025, there will be $14.6 million in total prizes available – a record total for the third year in a row.
Prize money in the four entry-level tournaments on the men’s and women’s World Tennis Tour will increase from $15,000 to $20,000 and $25,000 to $30,000. This will add $5 million in prize money to the starting tier and represents a 26% increase in 2024.
In addition, the number of World Tennis Tour matches to be broadcast live will increase to over 22,000, including every match at the M25, W50, W75 and W100 level events.
“The ITF World Tennis Tour is a key part of the tennis ecosystem and is the recognized pathway to the highest level of the game,” said ITF President David Haggerty. “Today’s announcement is further evidence of the ITF’s continued commitment to providing better prizes, higher standards and consistent scheduling, which make the tournament a fair and inclusive environment for women’s and men’s players to fulfill their potential.
“Crucially, another year of enhanced hospitality and accommodation for women and a fourth consecutive year of record awards reflects our commitment to achieving gender equality at all levels. The progress we have seen on the ITF World Tennis Tour in recent years continues at an excellent pace and we are excited for the future.”
